IDF chief says will seek law to recognize reservists who died outside service as fallen soldiers

After the suicide of an off-duty reservist, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir is planning to look into the possibility of advancing legislation that would grant the military the authority to recognize reservists who died outside of their service as fallen soldiers.

The IDF says it “shares in the deep sorrow of the Wasserstein family over the tragic death” of Roi Wasserstein, a 24-year-old reservist combat medic who served with the 401st Armored Brigade during fighting in Gaza.

Wasserstein completed his last reserve duty in May and was not on duty when he died by suspected suicide yesterday.

“According to the law, an IDF fallen soldier is defined as one who died during regular or active reserve service, and therefore, he is not officially recognized as an IDF fallen soldier,” the military says, after notifying Wasserstein’s family that he does not meet the criteria to be recognized as a military casualty.

“However, due to the circumstances of the case, the chief of the staff has instructed an examination of the possibility of promoting legislation that would grant the IDF the authority to recognize, in exceptional cases, a reserve soldier who passed away outside of military service as an IDF fallen soldier, if a direct link is found between the death and military service,” the IDF says.

While the IDF is not able to directly advance laws, it can send representatives to relevant Knesset committees to present its agenda.

Wasserstein is set to be buried in a civilian ceremony. The military says that in light of his army service, “and in honor of his memory, the IDF offered the family that the funeral be held in the presence of his comrades from the brigade in which Roi served,” and a commander would also be present and lay a wreath.